50 members in 23 teams to serve from June through December, proposing new ideas and improvements

Jeong Tae-gyu (center), pension director at the National Pension Service, poses with members of the 2026 Starlight Advisory Group at a launch ceremony held Friday at the NPS headquarters in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. [National Pension Service]
Jeong Tae-gyu (center), pension director at the National Pension Service, poses with members of the 2026 Starlight Advisory Group at a launch ceremony held Friday at the NPS headquarters in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. [National Pension Service]

The National Pension Service held a launch ceremony Friday at its headquarters in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, for the "2026 NPS Starlight Advisory Group," a youth panel made up of members between the ages of 19 and 39.

The Starlight Advisory Group is a newly established youth-focused advisory body created to evaluate and improve customer services that the NPS has expanded since the national pension system was introduced in 1988 — assessed this time through the eyes of younger generations.

A total of 134 applicants in 66 teams competed for spots on the panel, with 50 members across 23 teams ultimately selected. The group will be active for seven months, from June through December this year.

The name reflects the idea that "the bright ideas of young people, gathered together, will illuminate the future of the national pension." The advisory group will review the NPS's various services and guidance systems from a youth perspective and propose new ideas and improvements.

The ceremony opened with a welcome address by Jeong Tae-gyu, the NPS pension director, followed by a commissioning ceremony. Participants then received an overview of the national pension system and the first-premium support project for new enrollees, along with an explanation of the advisory group's operating direction and the improvement tasks it will take on.

"Directly hearing the voices of young people and reflecting them in our customer service improvements is a deeply meaningful process," Jeong said in his welcome address. "We will actively support the advisory members so that their creative proposals can translate into real improvements in customer service."


thlee@heraldcorp.com